riders of the purple sage-第22部分

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ore　Surprise　Valley　was　keen；　and　on　the　morning　after　his　long　talk　with　the　girl　he　took　his　rifle　and；　calling　Ring；　made　a　move　to　start。　The　girl　lay　back　in　a　rude　chair　of　boughs　he　had　put　together　for　her。　She　had　been　watching　him；　and　when　he　picked　up　the　gun　and　called　the　dog　Venters　thought　she　gave　a　nervous　start。

〃I'm　only　going　to　look　over　the　valley；〃　he　said。

〃Will　you　be　gone　long？〃

〃No；〃　he　replied；　and　started　off。　The　incident　set　him　thinking　of　his　former　impression　that；　after　her　recovery　from　fever；　she　did　not　seem　at　ease　unless　he　was　close　at　hand。　It　was　fear　of　being　alone；　due；　he　concluded；　most　likely　to　her　weakened　condition。　He　must　not　leave　her　much　alone。

As　he　strode　down　the　sloping　terrace；　rabbits　scampered　before　him；　and　the　beautiful　valley　quail；　as　purple　in　color　as　the　sage　on　the　uplands；　ran　fleetly　along　the　ground　into　the　forest。　It　was　pleasant　under　the　trees；　in　the　gold…flecked　shade；　with　the　whistle　of　quail　and　twittering　of　birds　everywhere。　Soon　he　had　passed　the　limit　of　his　former　excursions　and　entered　new　territory。　Here　the　woods　began　to　show　open　glades　and　brooks　running　down　from　the　slope；　and　presently　he　emerged　from　shade　into　the　sunshine　of　a　meadow。　The　shaking　of　the　high　grass　told　him　of　the　running　of　animals；　what　species　he　could　Dot　tell；　but　from　Ring's　manifest　desire　to　have　a　chase　they　were　evidently　some　kind　wilder　than　rabbits。　Venters　approached　the　willow　and　cottonwood　belt　that　he　had　observed　from　the　height　of　slope。　He　penetrated　it　to　find　a　considerable　stream　of　water　and　great　half…submerged　mounds　of　brush　and　sticks；　and　all　about　him　were　old　and　new　gnawed　circles　at　the　base　of　the　cottonwoods。

〃Beaver！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃By　all　that's　lucky！　The　meadow's　full　of　beaver！　How　did　they　ever　get　here？〃

Beaver　had　not　found　a　way　into　the　valley　by　the　trail　of　the　cliff…dwellers；　of　that　he　was　certain；　and　he　began　to　have　more　than　curiosity　as　to　the　outlet　or　inlet　of　the　stream。　When　he　passed　some　dead　water；　which　he　noted　was　held　by　a　beaver　dam；　there　was　a　current　in　the　stream；　and　it　flowed　west。　Following　its　course；　he　soon　entered　the　oak　forest　again；　and　passed　through　to　find　himself　before　massed　and　jumbled　ruins　of　cliff　wall。　There　were　tangled　thickets　of　wild　plum…trees　and　other　thorny　growths　that　made　passage　extremely　laborsome。　He　found　innumerable　tracks　of　wildcats　and　foxes。　Rustlings　in　the　thick　undergrowth　told　him　of　stealthy　movements　of　these　animals。　At　length　his　further　advance　appeared　futile；　for　the　reason　that　the　stream　disappeared　in　a　split　at　the　base　of　immense　rocks　over　which　he　could　not　climb。　To　his　relief　he　concluded　that　though　beaver　might　work　their　way　up　the　narrow　chasm　where　the　water　rushed；　it　would　be　impossible　for　men　to　enter　the　valley　there。

This　western　curve　was　the　only　part　of　the　valley　where　the　walls　had　been　split　asunder；　and　it　was　a　wildly　rough　and　inaccessible　corner。　Going　back　a　little　way；　he　leaped　the　stream　and　headed　toward　the　southern　wall。　Once　out　of　the　oaks　he　found　again　the　low　terrace　of　aspens；　and　above　that　the　wide；　open　terrace　fringed　by　silver　spruces。　This　side　of　the　valley　contained　the　wind　or　water　worn　caves。　As　he　pressed　on；　keeping　to　the　upper　terrace；　cave　after　cave　opened　out　of　the　cliff；　now　a　large　one；　now　a　small　one。　Then　yawned；　quite　suddenly　and　wonderfully　above　him；　the　great　cavern　of　the　cliff…dwellers。

It　was　still　a　goodly　distance；　and　he　tried　to　imagine；　if　it　appeared　so　huge　from　where　he　stood；　what　it　would　be　when　he　got　there。　He　climbed　the　terrace　and　then　faced　a　long；　gradual　ascent　of　weathered　rock　and　dust；　which　made　climbing　too　difficult　for　attention　to　anything　else。　At　length　he　entered　a　zone　of　shade；　and　looked　up。　He　stood　just　within　the　hollow　of　a　cavern　so　immense　that　he　had　no　conception　of　its　real　dimensions。　The　curved　roof；　stained　by　ages　of　leakage；　with　buff　and　black　and　rust…colored　streaks；　swept　up　and　loomed　higher　and　seemed　to　soar　to　the　rim　of　the　cliff。　Here　again　was　a　magnificent　arch；　such　as　formed　the　grand　gateway　to　the　valley；　only　in　this　instance　it　formed　the　dome　of　a　cave　instead　of　the　span　of　a　bridge。

Venters　passed　onward　and　upward。　The　stones　he　dislodged　rolled　down　with　strange；　hollow　crack　and　roar。　He　had　climbed　a　hundred　rods　inward；　and　yet　he　had　not　reached　the　base　of　the　shelf　where　the　cliff…dwellings　rested；　a　long　half…circle　of　connected　stone　house；　with　little　dark　holes　that　he　had　fancied　were　eyes。　At　length　he　gained　the　base　of　the　shelf；　and　here　found　steps　cut　in　the　rock。　These　facilitated　climbing；　and　as　he　went　up　he　thought　how　easily　this　vanished　race　of　men　might　once　have　held　that　stronghold　against　an　army。　There　was　only　one　possible　place　to　ascend；　and　this　was　narrow　and　steep。

Venters　had　visited　cliff…dwellings　before；　and　they　had　been　in　ruins；　and　of　no　great　character　or　size　but　this　place　was　of　proportions　that　stunned　him；　and　it　had　not　been　desecrated　by　the　hand　of　man；　nor　had　it　been　crumbled　by　the　hand　of　time。　It　was　a　stupendous　tomb。　It　had　been　a　city。　It　was　just　as　it　had　been　left　by　its　builders。　The　little　houses　were　there；　the　smoke…blackened　stains　of　fires；　the　pieces　of　pottery　scattered　about　cold　hearths；　the　stone　hatchets；　and　stone　pestles　and　mealing…stones　lay　beside　round　holes　polished　by　years　of　grinding　maizelay　there　as　if　they　had　been　carelessly　dropped　yesterday。　But　the　cliff…dwellers　were　gone！

Dust！　They　were　dust　on　the　floor　or　at　the　foot　of　the　shelf；　and　their　habitations　and　utensils　endured。　Venters　felt　the　sublimity　of　that　marvelous　vaulted　arch；　and　it　seemed　to　gleam　with　a　glory　of　something　that　was　gone。　How　many　years　had　passed　since　the　cliff…dwellers　gazed　out　across　the　beautiful　valley　as　he　was　gazing　now？　How　long　had　it　been　since　women　ground　grain　in　those　polished　holes？　What　time　had　rolled　by　since　men　of　an　unknown　race　lived；　loved；　fought；　and　died　there？　Had　an　enemy　destroyed　them？　Had　disease　destroyed　them；　or　only　that　greatest　destroyertime？　Venters　saw　a　long　line　of　blood…red　hands　painted　low　down　upon　the　yellow　roof　of　stone。　Here　was　strange　portent；　if　not　an　answer　to　his　queries。　The　place　oppressed　him。　It　was　light；　but　full　of　a　transparent　gloom。　It　smelled　of　dust　and　musty　stone；　of　age　and　disuse。　It　was　sad。　It　was　solemn。　It　had　the　look　of　a　place　where　silence　had　become　master　and　was　now　irrevocable　and　terrible　and　could　not　be　broken。　Yet；　at　the　moment；　from　high　up　in　the　carved　crevices　of　the　arch；　floated　down　the　low；　strange　wail　of　winda　knell　indeed　for　all　that　had　gone。

Venters；　sighing；　gathered　up　an　armful　of　pottery；　such　pieces　as　he　thought　strong　enough　and　suitable　for　his　own　use；　and　bent　his　steps　toward　camp。　He　mounted　the　terrace　at　an　opposite　point　to　which　he　had　left。　He　saw　the　girl　looking　in　the　direction　he　had　gone。　His　footsteps　made　no　sound　in　the　deep　grass；　and　he　approached　close　without　her　being　aware　of　his　presence。　Whitie　lay　on　the　ground　near　where　she　sat；　and　he　manifested　the　usual　actions　of　welcome；　but　the　girl　did　not　notice　them。　She　seemed　to　be　oblivious　to　everything　near　at　hand。　She　made　a　pathetic　figure　drooping　there；　with　her　sunny　hair　contrasting　so　markedly　with　her　white；　wasted　cheeks　and　her　hands　listlessly　clasped　and　her　little　bare　feet　propped　in　the　framework　of　the　rude　seat。　Venters　could　have　sworn　and　laughed　in　one　breath　at　the　idea　of　the　connection　between　this　girl　and　Oldring's　Masked　Rider。　She　was　the　victim　of　more　than　accident　of　fatea　victim　to　some　deep　plot　the　mystery　of　which　burned　him。　As　he　stepped　forward　with　a　half…formed　thought　that　she　was　absorbed　in　watching　for　his　return；　she　turned　her　head　and　saw　him。　A　swift　start；　a　change　rather　than　rush　of　blood　under　her　white　cheeks；　a　flashing　of　big　eyes　that　fixed　their　glance　upon　him；　transformed　her　face　in　that　single　instant　of　turning；　and　he　knew　she　had　been　watching　for　him；　that　his　return　was　the　one　thing　in　her　mind。　She　did　not　smile；　she　did　not　flush；　she　did　not　look　glad。　All　these　would　have　meant　little　compared　to　her　indefinite　expression。　Venters　grasped　the　peculiar；　vivid；　vital　something　that　leaped　from　her　face。　It　was　as　if　she　had　been　in　a　dead；　hopeless　clamp　of　inaction　and　feeling；　and　had　been　suddenly　shot　through　and　through　with　quivering　animation。　Almost　it　was　as　if　she　had　returned　to　life。

And　Venters　thought　with　lightning　swiftness；　〃I've　saved　herI've　unlinked　her　from　that　old　lifeshe　was　watching　as　if　I　were　all　she　had　left　on　earthshe　belongs　to　me！〃　The　thought　was　startlingly　new。　Like　a　blow　it　was　in　an　unprepared　moment。　The　cheery　salutation　he　had　ready　for　her　died　unborn　and　he　tumbled　the　pieces　of　pottery　awkwardly　on　the　grass　while　some　unfamiliar；　deep…seated　emotion；　mixed　with　pity　and　glad　assurance　of　his　power　to　succor　her；　held　him　dumb。

〃What　a　load　you　had！〃　she　said。　〃Why；　they're　pots　and　crocks！　Where　did　you　get　them？〃

Venters　laid　down　his　rifle；　and；　filling　one　of　the　pots　from　his　canteen；　he　placed　it　on　the　smoldering　campfire。

〃Hope　it'll　hold　water；〃　he　said；　presently。　〃Why；　there's　an　enormous　cliff…dwelling　just　across　here。　I　got　the　pottery　there。　Don't　you　think　we　needed　something？　That　tin　cup　of　mine　has　served　to　make　tea；　broth；　soupeverything。〃

〃I　noticed　we　hadn't　a　great　deal　to　cook　in。〃

She　laughed。　It　was　the　first　time。　He　liked　that　laugh；　and　though　he　was　tempted　to　look　at　her；　he　did　not　want　to　show　his　surprise　or　his　pleasure。

〃Will　you　take　me　over　there；　and　all　around　in　the　valleypretty　soon；　　when　I'm　well？〃　she　added。

〃Indeed　I　shall。　It's　a　wonderful　place。　Rabbits　so　thick　you　can't　step　without　kicking　one　out。　And　quail；　beaver；　foxes；　wildcats。　We're　in　a　regular　den。　Buthaven't　you　ever　seen　a　cliff…dwelling？'

〃No。　I've　heard　about　them；　though。　Thethe　men　say　the　Pass　is　full　of　old　houses　and　ruins。〃

〃Why；　I　should　think　you'd　have　run　across　one　in　all　your　riding　around；〃　said　Venters。　He　spoke　slowly；　choosing　his　words　carefully；　and　he